(Photo: Brady Klain/WCSN)
Arizona State’s home-opener in 2019 was always going to be a historic night. That much had been known since head coach Herm Edwards announced that Jayden Daniels would become the first true freshman quarterback in program history to open the season under center.
By halftime of ASU’s season opener against Kent State, Daniels had already broken the school record for most passing yards in a first start – previously held by Jeff Krohn, who threw for 160 yards in a season-opening win over San Diego State in 2000. By the end of the night, the Cajon High School product finished 15-for-24 with 284 yards passing, and three total touchdowns in an offensive performance Edwards described as “up and down.”
“He’s not going to go out there and throw five touchdown passes,” Edwards said. “But he’s going to get better every week. What I like about the guy, he’s got composure. He never panicked, just came over with a smile on his face and just kept playing.”
Daniels’ first start saw plenty of firsts for the highest-rated quarterback recruit in ASU history. On the first play, Daniels made his first mistake, throwing a ball deep down the sideline as redshirt senior wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk stopped his route.
“That’s a freshman mistake,” Daniels said. “That’s on me.”
The first completion of Daniels’ collegiate career came on his second pass – via a 42-yard connection with junior wide receiver Frank Darby. His first drive ended in points, as Christian Zendejas converted from 35 yards to give the Sun Devils an early 3-0 lead.
On his second offensive series, Daniels utilized a short field to his advantage, capping off a 5-play, 34-yard drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass to junior running back Eno Benjamin. The first touchdown pass of Daniels’ career came via play-action, with the freshman making a Kent State defender miss before finding Benjamin open in the end zone.
“I was just going through my reads,” Daniels said. “I happened to just cut back and I saw Eno going right there and I just threw the ball and he scored.”
Daniels opened up the second half by finishing off a drive dominated by the offensive line with a 1-yard touchdown run. At times showing off his ability to extend plays just as the old No. 5 in maroon and gold did. The difference between former ASU quarterback Manny Wilkins and Daniels being ones willingness to slide safely, a welcome sight to the coaching staff this season.
“He extended a couple of plays very nicely,” Edwards said. “I kept telling him when he runs, ‘just know when the journey is over. We didn’t recruit you to run.’”
With starting center Cade Cote out with a foot injury suffered Sunday, the Sun Devils struggled upfront with two freshman offensive lineman keying a group which allowed five sacks on the night. While Daniels’ was able to improvise at times when things broke down, offensive coordinator said having so much inexperience on the offensive line to go along with Daniels’ was “kind of a tough deal.”
“To score 30 points, I’m kind of pleased with that,” Likens said. “I am very pleased with what [Daniels] did. He had pressure. He did not have any foolish turnovers. I thought he did very well securing the football and sliding when he had to slide.”
For one to have an honest discussion about the importance, significance and impressiveness of Daniels’ first start, it must be first recognized that the Sun Devils weren’t playing a defense close to the caliber they’ll face later this season.
ASU wasn’t even playing the 2018 Mid-American Conference Champions, the Buffalo Bulls. Daniels and the ASU offense put up 455 total yards against a Golden Flashes squad that finished 2-10 in 2018. But with a depleted offensive line and a freshman taking snaps, Arizona State was still able to get through Week 1 without any major red flags at the quarterback spot.
If Thursday night in Tempe was the football equivalent of a pop quiz, Daniels passed easily. He’ll get another study session next Friday against Sacramento State, before the first real exam on Sept. 14 against No. 18 Michigan State.
